Plataforma per la Llengua denounces four cases of premises that do not have a website in Catalan
Catalan is Catalonia’s own language and also a distinctive element of its gastronomy. For this reason, it is surprising that some of the most prestigious restaurants in the country, which have received the Michelin star in recognition of their quality, do not incorporate Catalan on their websites or in their communication channels. This is the situation detected by Plataforma per la Llengua, which has been monitoring Michelin-starred restaurants in Catalonia for the past three years and encourages them to use Catalan.
The entity in defense of the language has explained through a thread on the X social network, formerly Twitter, that of the 91 Michelin-starred restaurants in Catalonia, four still do not have a website in Catalan, despite the fact that the last year there were six and two have already rectified this year. The four cases are Enoteca Paco Pérez and SUTO in Barcelona, Deliranto in Salou and Escola d’Hostaleria Hofmann, also in Barcelona. Plataforma per la Llengua has set out the particularities of each case and has asked the managers of the restaurants to take a step forward and bet on Catalan.
Enoteca Paco Pérez, a surprising case
The first of the restaurants that does not have a website in Catalan is Enoteca Paco Pérez, which is located in the Hotel Arts in Barcelona. What makes this case even stranger is that the same chef, Paco Pérez, has another Michelin-starred restaurant, the Miramar, which does have a website in Catalan. In addition, Hotel Arts, where Enoteca Paco Pérez is located, also offers its website in Catalan. Therefore, it is not a problem of resources or will, but an inexplicable decision that harms the restaurant’s image and its relationship with Catalan-speaking customers.
The SUTO, a peculiar case
The second restaurant that does not focus on Catalan is SUTO, which also does not have its own website, but uses Instagram as a presentation platform. The problem is that on Instagram he only posts in Spanish, without taking into account that Catalan is the majority language of his potential customers. However, the entity acknowledges that the letter can be accessed from Instagram in Catalan, under equal conditions with the other languages. This shows that the SUTO has the ability to use Catalan, but that it does not do so consistently or effectively.
El Deliranto, an unfortunate case
The third restaurant that does not have a website in Catalan is Deliranto, which is located in Salou, a town where Catalan is the usual language of the majority of the population. El Deliranto only offers its website in Spanish and English, ignoring Catalan as the language of the territory where it operates. This is an unfortunate case, as the restaurant misses the opportunity to connect with its public and to show its respect for Catalan culture and identity.
The Hofmann Hospitality School, a striking case
The fourth and last of the restaurants that does not have a website in Catalan is the Escola d’Hostaleria Hofmann, which in addition to its Restaurant Hofmann, also offers training in hospitality and gastronomy. What makes this case even more striking is that the Hofmann Hospitality School is supported by the Barcelona Chamber of Commerce, an institution whose aim is to promote the economic and social development of Catalonia. How can it be that a school that trains future restaurant professionals does not include Catalan as a training and commercial language? How can it be that a restaurant that aims to transmit the traditional style and Catalan cuisine does not incorporate Catalan as a distinctive and quality element?
Plataforma per la Llengua celebrates that two restaurants have switched to Catalan
Despite the four reported cases, Plataforma per la Llengua also wanted to highlight the good news that two of the restaurants that did not have a website in Catalan last year have already incorporated it this year. These are Moments, a restaurant in the Mandarin Oriental hotel, and Aleia, located in Casa Fuster. Both restaurants have shown that Catalan is a language that adds value to their gastronomic offer and that allows them to differentiate themselves and retain their customers. As Plataforma per la Léngua says, “good cuisine is also that which is integrated into the linguistic landscape of the territory where it operates”.
